James w



(No Model.)

J. W. DENNIS.

RETAINER FOR GUN WADS. No. 295.234.

I 17 7745 171 0? (f/55A V 1am RS. Fllcloljlhognpher, Waahinglon. D. C.

Patented Mar. 18, 1.884.

UNTTan STaTas PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES \V. DENNIS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM HAMILTON, OF SAME PLACE. I

RETAINER FOR GUN-WADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,234, dated March 18, 1884. Application tiled October 8, 18:53. (.\'n model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gun-\Vads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for retaiuing gun-wads in position when used in securing the loading in paper or sheet-metal cartridgc-shells. In loading such shells for use, wads of pasteboard are ordinarily employed to separate the powder from the shot, and as an exterior wall holding the entire charge in position.v It has been found that the jarring of transportation, and especially the jar caused by firing an adjacent barrel, as in the case of double-barreled weapons,very frequently displaces one or both the wads in the remaining cartridge, and by thus disarranging the load destroys the accuracy of the succeeding shot. Asa means ofovercoming this difficulty, awad or washer ofthin sheet metal, with radial projections and concave in form, is inserted in the shell above the outer wad, and by flatten- .ing the same against the outer wad the radial projections are forced horizontally outward into the material of the shell, to form a holding catch; but in practice this device has been found in many cases ineffective, and, moreover, can only be used with apaper shelhwhere as metal shells are largely used.

7 The object of my invention is to remedy these difficult-ies, and provide a holding de vice which shall be efficient and adapted at the same time to either paper or metal shells; and it consists in a concave or arched metallic wad-holder, which may or may not be provided with radial spurs projecting beyond its proper periphery, but which is provided with spurs projecting downwardly, so that in flattening and expanding it against the paper wad such points will sink into and engage the paper wad securely to the metal holders, and when constructed for and used with metallic shells such downwardly-projecting tongues may be wedged and expanded against the previously-roughened surface of the metal shell, at the same time being secured firmly to the paper wad. The result in any case is, that the metal holding device is anchored firmly to and becomes part of the paper w-ad throughout its entire surface, and is thereby rendered much stronger and stiffer. and its own action rendered more efficieut, besides which the projecting tongues being arranged to penetrate the paper wad expand the latter and secure it more firmly in position against the surrounding shell.

- In carrying outmy invention, I do not confine myself to any particular form of metallic holding-wad, which may therefore be circular, star-shaped, polygonal, or square, or a simple cross bar or bars with arc-shaped or pointed extremities, provided it be arched or concaved to expand in flattening, and provided with one or more tongues projecting downwardly under the concave side, adapted to penetrate the paper wad, and thereby secure the two together.

In the drawings herewith, illustrating my invention, Figure l is an axial section of a loaded cartridgesliell, with the concave holding device placed in position, ready to be flattened. Fig. 2 is a similar section, showing the holding device flattened, and the downwardlyprojccting points embedded in the paper wad. Figs. 3 and at are cross-section and plan views, respectively, of a circular holding device with radial projections and concentrically-arranged holding-tongues, being the device ex hibited in Figs. 1 and '2; and Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views with sections of modified forms of holding-wads, embodying substantially similar principles of construction.

In the drawings, the holding device is designated by the letter A. B is the cartridgeshell, 0 the charge of powder, I) the .charge of shot, and E E the ordinary paper or felt wads, the arrangement being familiar, and clearly shown in Fig. 1. The concave metallic holding-wad A being placed as there shown, and flattened by a plunger of suitable form, the spurs a, extending radially beyond the circular periphery of the metal disk, are projected outward by the general enlargement of the circumference in the flattening process against or into the inclosing-wall of the shell. Atthe same time the downwardly-projectingtongues b are forced into the material of the wad and held firmly therein, securing the disk A to the wad over its entire surface. It is obvious that at or near its periphery tend to 5 tion to each other to give sired relation, as shown in the various figures the holdin -oower of the radiall ro'ectim a, I .5 P J a points a is thereby much increased, and the fact is abundantly demonstrated by experience that the charge is securely retained in place against accidental displacement from any cause. The downwardly-projecting points I) are most conveniently formed by making an angular cut through the metal disk and turning down the tongue thus formed. These cuts may be made in any desired position or rela of the drawings. It is not absolutely necessarythat the metal holding device should be of disk form, or be provided with radiallyprojecting points at the circumference. A simple cross-bar may be used, as exhibited in Fig. 6, widened at to fit and engage by radial pressure against the internal wall of the shell when flattened, as before described.

Where metallic shells are used, it is neces sary, first, that the interior wall of the shell should be roughened-tor example, by slight circular corrugations produced by rotating therein a plunger provided with cutting-points arranged to project beyond its exterior surface. The holding device in this case is provided with a series of downwardly-projecting tongues arranged at its perimeter. These may be made to present their flat sides or thin edges to the shell, as desired. In the first case the disk is formedwith radially-projecting tongues, which are thus turned downward, and upon forcing the disk to its place the tongues intervene and wedge themselves between the paper wad and the metallic shell. In

the second case, as shown in Fig. 5, the disk is made circular, and a series of tangential the tongues the dethe extremities in arc form,

cuts, 0, made inward from the perimeter, and the tongues thus turned downward in radial planes. In pressing the holding device so formed to its seat, the tongues out through the material of the paper wad, and present their edges to the metallic shell. Instead of sheet metal, round or fiat wire may be employed in the construction of my improved wad-holder, either bent to a form approximating the out-. line of Fig. 6, or arranged as a spider, with two wires crossing, and connected at the center, suitably arched, and provided with one or more down wardly-projecting spurs of similar material.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A'metal cartridge-wad holder eoncaved or arched, and ex'pansible by flattening with one or more downwardly-projecting spurs at or within its peripheral boundary, adapted to be forced into or around the wad in the flattclr ing process, to secure the metal holder to the wad, and the latter within the shell, substantially as set forth.

2. As a new articleof manufacture, an arched or concave sheet-metal wad-holder having spurs or proj ctions upon its under surface, formed by cutting and turning down the metal within the periphe'ral boundar and adapted to sink into or around the paper or felt wad in the flattening process, to engage and hold the parts in place, substantially as set forth In testimony whereof hand in, the presence of two subscribing witncsses.

JAMES WV. DENNIS.

lVitnessesz- S. OSBORNE,

G. SI-IAPPELL.

I have hereunto set my 

